sars

Question 1

complication of covid

Answer 1

acute resp failure
pnuemonia
ARDS
acute liver injury
cardiac
2 infection
AKI
septic shock
DIC
blood clots
multisustem inflammaotry syndrome
chronic faitgue
rhabdo

Question 2

sx ARDS

Answer 2

dyspnoea
elevated respiratory rate
bilateral lung crackles
low oxygen saturations

Question 3

ARDS what is it

Answer 3

caused by the increased permeability of alveolar capillaries leading to fluid accumulation in the alveoli, i.e. non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema

Question 4

what are key investigations for ARDS

and what will these find

Answer 4

A chest x-ray and arterial blood gases are the key investigations.

Criteria (American-European Consensus Conference)
acute onset (within 1 week of a known risk factor)
pulmonary oedema: bilateral infiltrates on chest x-ray (‘not fully explained by effusions, lobar/lung collapse or nodules)
non-cardiogenic (pulmonary artery wedge pressure needed if doubt)
pO2/FiO2 < 40kPa (300 mmHg)

Question 5

pulmonary wedge pressure

Answer 5

integrated measurement of the compliance of the left side of the heart and the pulmonary circulation

norma 4-12
elevated in Ventricular failure and mitral stenosis for example

Question 6

tx ards

Answer 6

oxygenation/ventilation to treat the hypoxaemia
general organ support e.g. vasopressors as needed
treatment of the underlying cause e.g. antibiotics for sepsis
certain strategies such as prone positioning and muscle relaxation have been shown to improve outcome in ARDS

ITU